Closer than the first one, but I call it for Kerry.
Bush did a better job this time in his presentation. He seemed more relaxed, didn't make squinty faces as much, and although he obviously got excited a few times he did not whine. He fumbled badly the question about whether he had made any mistakes, his response to the environmant question was a joke, and most important - he is having trouble running from his record. Minor snarky side note -- he called it "the Internets" rather than "the Internet". I wonder if he's ever even used the Internet?
Kerry smacked down the "flip flop" charge at two different times and handed Bush his butt on jobs, the environment, and of course the war. He made a point of remembering questioner's names, referring back to them later in the event - as compared to Bush, who I think didn't mention anyone's name at all. And I think his answer to the pro-life woman about goverment funding of abortion was spot on.
What the audience thought of them both I don't know. Bush got more laughs than Kerry, especially when he put his "aw shucks" personna on. If they really can't see through that facade after all this time, then we're in deep doo-doo on November 2nd. However, not to bash the audience too much, I think the questions were overall very good -- as good as the ones Lehrer asked at the first debate and definitely better than Gwen Ifil's.
Now to see what the pundits have to say.
